The Mental Health System Reform Scholarship

Criminal defense lawyer, Dayne Phillips genuinely cares about the mental state of his clients and of those in our community. The mental health crisis in the United States has been referred to as “the elephant in the room” because of the significant impact it has on our society and the reluctance of our lawmakers to adequately address these serious issues.

If this prevalent issue has not affected you personally, chances are you know someone who has been affected by the mental health system. To further the conversation on mental health reform, Dayne Phillips is proud to introduce the Mental Health System Reform Scholarship to bring awareness to this topic and give students an opportunity to voice their opinion on how to improve the mental health system within the United States.

In a 750-1,000 word essay, please discuss whether you believe that the mental health system in our country can do more to serve the needs of individuals with mental health disorders. Specifically, explain your opinion and provide reasons in support of your stance. If you believe reform is necessary, outline the steps that should be taken to improve the current system. This scholarship will award one student with one thousand dollars ($1,000) to be used in the pursuit of their educational goals.

Scholarship Eligibility

This scholarship is available for students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or law school program within the United States. High school seniors who are graduating and will be enrolled in college before the scholarship deadline are also eligible to submit an essay. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher for consideration.

Application

Applications for the Mental Health System Reform Scholarship must include the following:

  • A current resume
  • An official academic transcript
  • A 750-1000 word essay explaining your opinion on the mental health debate in the U.S. and whether you believe the mental health system is in need of reform. If so, include the steps you believe are necessary to accomplish this reform.

Deadline

The deadline of February 28, 2024, for our scholarship has passed. We want to thank everyone who applied and shared their stories.

Check out our past winners of The Mental Health System Reform Scholarship